Flexible package

ABSTRACT

A package for retaining consumable products is formed by a planar sheet or web of a flexible material that is folded about a plurality of aligned products. The fold of the sheet defines one side edge of the package. The other three side edges of the package are formed by sealing the front and back panel portions of the sheet to one another. An opening mechanism is provided for exposing at least a portion of the products retained within the package. The opening mechanism may be provided along the folded side edge of the package, at a corner of the package, adjacent to one of the sealed side edges. Other forms of opening means may also be formed along one of the seal edges along with means for resealing the opened package.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims the benefit of the filing date ofprovisional application Ser. No. 61/587,787, filed Jan. 18, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a package formed from a flexible sheetmaterial for retaining one or more product therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages made of flexible sheet materials are known. Such packages areformed to hold and retain a variety of products. Certain package formsmay be easily opened, but are not always resealable.

Flexible packages for the storage of consumable products, such aschewing gum in the form of sticks or slabs, are known. One such packageincludes a folded sheet of flexible material. The folded edge of thesheet forms one side of the package, while the other sides are sealedtogether using an adhesive, a heat seal or the like. The productsretained may be of similar shape and size, with the package surroundingand retaining the products in the aligned fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present disclosure a package for consumableproducts (or the like) is disclosed. The package is thrilled by a planarsheet or web that is folded about the products. The fold of the sheetdefines one side edge of the package. The other three side edges of thepackage are formed by sealing the front and back panel portions to oneanother. Opening means is provided for exposing at least a portion ofthe products retained within the package.

The opening means may be provided along the folded side edge of thepackage, preferably at a corner of the package, adjacent to one of thesealed side edges. The opening means may also be formed along one of theseal edges. In addition, means for resealing the opened package may beprovided adjacent the opening means.

Other features of the present invention and combinations of featureswill become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of the present disclosure, drawings are provided thatshow various forms. It should be understood that the invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in thedrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a package.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a formation process for the package ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of the package of FIGS. 1 and 2,with a portion of the package in an opened condition.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a package.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a formation process for the package ofFIG. 4 along with a variation thereof.

FIG. 6 shows a partial perspective view of the package of FIGS. 3 and 4,with a portion of the package in an opened condition.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of further embodiment of a package.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a formation process for the package ofFIG. 7 along with a variation thereof.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a formation process of a furthervariation of the package of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a partial perspective view of the package of FIGS. 7 and8, with a portion of the package in an opened condition.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of further embodiment of a package.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a formation process for the package ofFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of a formation process of a furthervariation of the package of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows a partial perspective view of the package of FIGS. 11 and12, with a portion of the package in an opened condition.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic view of a formation process of a furtherembodiment of a package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the figures, where like numerals identify like elements, there isshown a number of embodiments of a package or pouch for consumableproducts, such as chewing gum sticks or slabs. As generally shown inFIG. 1, the package 10 is comprised of flexible sheet or web materialthat retains five sticks of gum 12 in an aligned, planer formation. Thesheet that forms the package 10 is folded along one edge 14. The foldedsheet forms a front panel 16 and back panel 18. The front and backpanels 16, 18 are sealed to one another along three side edges 20, 22,24. The bottom side edge 22 is positioned opposite of the folded edge14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the package 10 is produced from a roll 26 offlexible material. The sheet roll 26 is preferably the width of twopackage blanks 28, 30. The sheet 26 is slit down the middle to make thetwo separate blanks 28, 30. To make a package 10, the sheet 26 portionof each blank 28, 30 is folded in half in the machine direction, aroundthe product sticks 12. The folded blanks 28, 30 are then sealed on threeside edges 22, 24, 26.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the product sticks 12 are accessed inside thesealed package 10 by an opening means 32, which as shown is formed onthe folded edge 14 of the package 12. The opening means 32 in thepresent embodiment is preferably formed at a corner of the package,adjacent to one of the sealed side edges 20. The opening means 32 isformed by a score line 34 within the flexible sheet material 26 thatforms the package blanks 28, 30. (See also FIG. 2.) The score line 34extends partially through the material 26 and, as shown, forms a closedloop. When the package 10 is formed, the score line 34 extends over thetop fold 14 of the package 10 and is positioned on both the front panel16 and back panel 18. The score line 34, which may be formed by a laser,rotary die cut or other device, creates a weakness in the sheet material26 of the package 10, such that a flap portion 36 of the opening means30 may be separated from the main body of the sheet material 26. Asshown in FIG. 3, the flap 36 has been removed from the folded edge 14 ofthe package 10, creating a notch in the folded edge 14 of the package 10and exposing one product stick 12. The formed opening or notch 38, whichis defined by the position of the score line loop 34. The opening 38 issufficient to expose a portion of the side surface of one stick 12 andlong enough for the stick to be removed from the package 10 through theopening. The remaining sticks 12 are left in the package 10 upon removalof the first stick. If additional sticks are desired to be removed, theymay be pushed towards the sealed side edge 20 and moved into alignmentwith the position of the notch opening. The package side edge 20 may berolled closed for storage or otherwise sealed, such as by providing aresealable adhesive on one or more surfaces within the package 10.

The sheet material 26 of the present embodiment, and the othersdiscussed below, may take the form of a laminate material havingmultiple layers. One example of a laminate for the present purpose is acombination of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), foil and Surlynmaterial. (Surlyn is a registered trademark of E.I. duPont de Nemoursand Company.) Alternatives to these materials include orientedpolypropylene (OPP) as a substitute for the PET. The foil layer may bereplaced by a metalized polyester (MPET). The Surlyn material may bereplaced, for example, by a polyethylene having a low heat sealingtemperature.

The combination of the PET and foil provide the strength necessary forretaining product. The Surlyn material is contemplated to be anextrusion coating on the inside of the foil. The Surlyn material istypically used as a food contact or seal layer in flexible packaging. Inthe contemplated embodiment, the Surlyn material is used to form heatseals along the three side edges 20, 22 and 24. The PET layer in thelamination may be about 48 gauge (ga). The thickness of the alternativeOPP material is contemplated to be 60 ga. The foil layer maybe in therange of 50 to 100 ga. The Surlyn seal coating may be fairly thin, suchas being about 25 ga. A “permanent” laminating adhesive may be used tosecure the PET to the foil, and may be a urethane based adhesiveproduct. Ink may be (reverse) printed on the inside surface of the PETmaterial and covered by the foil. The score line is contemplated toextend through the PET material, but not onto the foil layer.Appropriate graphics may be provided to identify the opening mean andthe contemplated method for opening the package. The printing may beprovided on the PET material by means of a rotogravure process, which ispresently preferred, by a flexographic printing process or by some otherknown method.

An alternate embodiment of the package 10 is shown in FIGS. 4-6. Inthese figures, the package 10 is generally formed in the same manner asthat in FIGS. 1-3, with an alternate form of an opening means provided,which is generally designated with the numeral 132. In FIG. 4, thepackage 10 includes a top folded edge 14 and three sealed edges 20, 22,24. A score line 134 a is shown in FIG. 4, adjacent the folded edge 14of the package 10. The score line 134 a serves to define the openingmeans 132. As shown in FIG. 5, the score line 134 a is formed across thefold line 14 on one package blank 28 extending from the roll of sheetmaterial 26. The score line 134 a is a concave curve extending in themachine direction. In the second package blank 30, there is a score line134 b shown that is relatively wider than that shown in blank 28.

In FIG. 6, the flap 136 formed by the score line 134 a is separated fromthe main body of the package 10, forming the notch 138 and exposing astick 12. Because of the concave formation of the score line 134 a, theflap 136 remains attached at the concave end to the folded spine of thetop edge 14 of the package 10. As shown, the side surfaces of the stickare exposed by the open notch 138. It is contemplated that the wider arcof the score line 134 b from blank 30 (FIG. 5) would expose a greateramount of the side surface of the stick 12 through the open notch 138.It is preferred that the materials used for the package resist thecontinued tearing by the flap 136 along the folded edge 14 of thepackage 10. Maintaining the flap connected to the package 10 may beconsidered advantageous as a means for reducing waste material thatwould need disposal after opening. In addition, the flap may serve as acover for the opening, restricting entry of dust or other material intoand out of the package. The materials of the present embodiment arecontemplated to be the same as that discussed relative to FIGS. 1-3.

In FIGS. 7-10 there is shown a package 10 of the type contemplatedhaving further examples of opening means for access to the storedproduct 12. In FIG. 7, the package 10 is shown with the folded edge 14and three seal edges 20, 22, 24. The edges in combination with the frontand back panels 16, 28 enclose the aligned product sticks 12. Theopening means 232 is defined by a score line 234 formed along the foldededge 14, adjacent one sealed side edge 20. In FIGS. 8 and 9, there isshown the initial assembly of the package from the sheet roll 26. Thetop package blank 28 shows the opening means 232 formed from the scoreline 234. The score line 232 is shown having relatively straight sides,a transverse end line at one end and an open, non-scored opposite end. Apatterned adhesive 240 is provided under the transverse end of the scoreline. The adhesive 240 is contemplated to be a pressure sensitiveadhesive (PSA) and to be releasable. Another possible example is a coldseal adhesive. The adhesive 240 includes a transition line 242 a wherethe releasable adhesive transitions into the permanent, laminationadhesive. The combination of the score line 234 and the adhesive 240creates a lifting tab 244 on the cut end of the flap 236 formed by thescore line 234. (See also FIG. 10.) The adhesive 240 is preferablyresealable and provides a means for resealing the package after initialopening.

As shown in FIG. 8 on blank 28, the adhesive 240 ends at line 242 a,which is shown as perpendicular to the side edges of the remainder ofthe score line 234. In the blank 30 shown in FIG. 8, the transition line242 b for the adhesive 240 is a concave curve in the direction of theopen end of the score line 234 (and in the machine direction). In theblanks 31 in FIG. 9, the adhesive forms a transition line 242 c that isconvex in the direction of the open end of the score line (and in themachine direction). These variations in the form of the adhesive 240under the starting tab 244 are intended to vary the initiation of thetear created by the flap portion 236 as it is separated from the packagebody. Depending on the materials used for the lamination (and possiblythe form of the flap as defined by the score lines) the initiation ofthe tear of the non-scored materials may need to be adjusted. Certainformations of the adhesive transition may serve to encourage separation.Others may need to make the separation more controlled, and resistun-intended separation of the flap.

Also shown in FIG. 9, the open ends of the score line 234 are providedwith inwardly directed stop cuts 246. These transverse cuts deflect thetearing motion as the flap is separated. The tear deflection may serveto stop the tearing action along the folded edge 14. Alternatively,depending on the properties of the materials used for the package, thestop cuts may serve to cause a separation of the flap 236 from thepackage body.

In FIG. 10, the flap portion 236 is shown separated from the package 10to define the notch 240, although remaining attached at the open end ofthe score line pattern 234. The adhesive 240 is shown on the tab 44 andis also provided on a portion of the folded edge 14, adjacent the sealededge 20. The adhesive, in combination with the score line, creates astart-up tab for easy separation of the top surface of the laminate fromthe underlying layers. The user would separate the tab and pull upwardly(and back). The pulling force preferably tears the underlying layersalong the score line in the upper laminate layer. The tearing of theunderlying layers begins at the transition line 242 a. Once the flap 236is opened, the notch 240 is exposed and the stick 12 can be removedthere-through. As discussed above relative to other variations, changesin the form and position of the score lines may expose additionalamounts of the side wall of the product, which may serve to assist inremoval of the stick 12 from the package 10. The laminate materials ofthe present embodiment are contemplated to be the same as that discussedrelative to the other figures herein. The adhesive utilized for the tabmay take a number of forms or may be an adhesive void, leaving the tabfree from engagement with the underlying layers. Further, the tabportion, along with other structures may be formed in registration withthe graphics on the package to provide an identification of the openingmeans and its operation.

In FIGS. 11-14, there is shown the package 10 with an opening means 332provided along the side seal 20. In FIG. 11, the package 10 is shown inthe same form as above, with the folded top edge and three sealed sideedges 20, 22, 24. The edges of the package along with the front and backpanels 16, 18 serve to retain a plurality of product sticks 12 in analigned format. The opening means 332 is formed by a non-sealed areabetween the two plies of the sealed edge 20. The non-seal area creates athumb opening for engaging the two plies and for applying a transverseforce to open the side seal 20.

In FIG. 12, the structure of the package blank 28 is shown. The sheetmaterial 26 creates the front and real panels 16, 18 of the package 10.Upon folding the sheet 26 about the fold line 14, the side edges of theback panel 20 a, 22 a and 24 a are brought into contact with the sideedges 20 b, 22 b, 24 b of the front panel 16. The side edges may besealed together by a heat seal or by an adhesive. The opening means 332is foamed by a peelable seal being formed along the side edges 20. Thepeelable seal may be created by adjusting the heat sealing process or byusing a releasable adhesive along the side edge. As shown, the side edge20 is provided with an extended width seal, as compared to the otherside edges 22, 24. Sealing voids 350 are provided on each side edgeportion 20 a, 20 b and are centered along the edge of the sheet 26. Whenthe sheet is folded, the voids are preferably brought into alignment tocreate the thumb opening 348 (FIG. 11).

In the variation of FIG. 13, the sealing voids 351 are relatively largerthan those shown in FIG. 12. Hence the size of the thumb opening 348along the side edge of the package is relatively longer, making theplies of the side edge easier to separate.

In FIG. 14, the opening means 332 is shown after separation of thesealed edge 20. The opening force is shown by the diverging arrows. Theforce is applied by grabbing the plies 20 a, 20 b of the side edge 20within the thumb opening 348 (FIG. 11) created by the voids 350.Resealing means may be provided in the form of a resealable adhesiveadjacent to or as part of the side seal 20. The resealing means isprovided for resealing the two plies back together, after withdraw ofone or more product pieces. A portion of the extended seal 20 may beformed by heat sealing the two plies together and by providing aresealable adhesive adjacent the relatively stronger seal. Once thestronger seal is separated or eliminated, the resealable sealing portionmay be used for closing the package.

In FIG. 15 there is shown a further variation of a side seal separationopening means, which is generally designated by the numeral 432. Thepackage is formed from a sheet material 26 having a width that forms twoblanks, as discussed above. The side edge portion 24 is formed from thetwo plies creating the front and rear panels 16, 18. Two extension flaps450 a, 450 b are provided adjacent the side seal portions 24 a, 24 b.The extension flaps are not sealed together when the package is created.Hence, the flaps 450 a, 450 b may be separated by a transverse force,which is applied to peal open the sealed edge 24. Again, the side seammay be created by a peelable heat seal or a releasable adhesive. Anadhesive may also be provided adjacent the separated edge to providemeans for resealing the package after opening. A resealable cold sealadhesive is one option for this type structure. The materials of thepresent embodiment are contemplated to be the same as that discussedrelative to the other figures above.

The present disclosure includes a number of exemplary embodiments. Itshould be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing thatvarious other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein,without departing from the spirit and scope of the contemplatedinvention. The various embodiments are intended to provide a range ofopening options for a folded-side, sealed or similar type package. Theopening options have a number of individualized structures that arerelatively simple to identify and that provide easy opening of thepackage and withdrawal of the product contents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A package for retaining a product comprising: aplanar sheet folded along a first edge and defining front and backpanels about the products, the folded first edge of the sheet definingone side edge of the package, three side edges formed by sealing thefront and back panels to one another, the folded edge and the threesealed side edges defining an interior package volume for storingproduct therein, and opening means formed on at least one of the sideedges, the opening means for selectively exposing a portion of theproduct retained within the package volume.
 2. The package as in claim 1wherein the opening means is provided along the folded first edge. 3.The package of claim 2 wherein the opening means is provided inwardly onthe side edge from a package corner defined by the folded first edge andone of the sealed side edges.
 4. The package of claim 3 furthercomprising means for resealing the opened package, the resealing meansprovided adjacent the opening means.
 5. The package of claim 3 whereinthe opening means comprises a score line within the planer sheet, thescore line formed for separation of a flap portion of the folded firstedge, the separation of the flap portion creating a notch in a portionof the folded first edge for discharge of product from the packagevolume.
 6. The package of claim 5 wherein the score line is curved andwraps over the folded first edge.
 7. The package of claim 5 wherein thescore line is formed such that the flap portion remains attached to thepackage after Separation along the score line.
 8. The package of claim 7further comprising means for resealing the flap portion after separationalong the score line
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein the resealingmeans is provided adjacent the opening means and inwardly of the packagecorner.
 10. The package of claim 1 wherein the opening means is formedalong one of the sealed side edges.
 11. The package of claim 10 whereinthe opening means is formed by a sealing void that is surrounded by thesealed portion of the one sealed side edge, and wherein the sealedportion is defined by a peelable seal.
 12. The package of claim 11wherein the peelable seal is formed by one of the following: heatsealing and pressure sensitive adhesive.
 13. The package of claim 11further comprising means for resealing the opened package, the resealingmeans provided adjacent the opening means.
 14. A package for retaining aplurality of individual products in an aligned formation, the packagecomprising: a body portion formed from a planar sheet folded along afirst edge and defining front and back panels, the folded first edge ofthe sheet defining one side edge of the body, and three side edgesformed by sealing the periphery of the front and back panels to oneanother, the folded edge and the three sealed side edges defining apackage volume for storing the aligned products therein, and an openingmechanism formed along the folded first edge for selectively exposing atleast a portion of the aligned products retained within the packagevolume, the opening mechanism provided inwardly from a package cornerdefined by the folded first edge and one of the sealed side edges. 15.The package of claim 14 wherein the opening mechanism comprises a scoreline provided within the planer sheet, the score line extending over thefolded first edge and along a portion within each of the front and backpanels, the score line providing for the separation of a flap portion onthe folded first edge, the separation of the flap portion creating anotch in a portion of the folded first edge for discharge of one of thealigned products from within the package volume.
 16. The package ofclaim 15 wherein at least a portion of the score line is curved.
 17. Thepackage of claim 15 wherein the score line is formed such that the flapportion remains attached to the package after separation along the scoreline.
 18. The package of claim 17 further comprising means for resealingthe flap portion after separation along the score line.
 19. The packageof claim 18 wherein the resealing means is provided adjacent the flapportion, adjacent the package corner.